Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru reported that negotiations with Ninshu had failed, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to order an investigation before deciding Konoha’s next move. Shisui and the others discussed the danger of war, planned a supervised ranking battle, and told Mu Yue about future disasters, but he assured them he would prevent them.

• Orochimaru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kakuzu had taken an unusually defiant stance and the negotiations with Ninshu had failed, so Hiruzen ordered a thorough investigation.
• Shisui gathered Kakashi, Obito, Nohara Rin, and Might Guy, and Kakashi warned that Konoha could not easily forgive Ninshu for killing Shimura Danzō.
• Kakashi proposed a ranking battle with restrictions on dangerous techniques, and the group agreed to ask Mu Yue to supervise it.
• The disciples agreed to tell Mu Yue about the Nine-Tails Attack and the Uchiha Clan Massacre while keeping other future information to themselves.
• The disciples confessed that they had secretly learned about the future, and Obito told Mu Yue that Minato Namikaze would die during the Nine-Tails Attack and Uchiha Itachi would later massacre the Uchiha Clan.
• Mu Yue assured the disciples that neither disaster would happen and said he would handle both threats.

Yamato joined Obito, Shisui, Rin, Kakashi, and Guy to watch Mu Yue’s ranking battle, where Kakashi defeated Guy with a powerful lightning slash. Kakashi remained exhausted after the fight, while Guy promised to catch up with his rival.

• Yamato headed to the Southern Forest and met Obito and Shisui on the way to the ranking battles.
• Mu Yue had Obito, Kakashi, Guy, and Shisui draw lots, pairing Kakashi against Guy in the first match.
• Guy opened the Eight Gates and attacked Kakashi, who countered with his sword, Thunder Breathing Chakra Mode, and Armament Haki.
• Kakashi and Guy unleashed their strongest techniques, and Kakashi’s Modified Musou no Hitotachi overcame Guy’s Golden Horizon Line.
• Mu Yue stopped the battle and declared Kakashi the winner, while Guy praised his rival and vowed to catch up.

Shisui and Obito fought in the ranking battle, revealing that both could use Susanoo. Shisui’s Armament Haki-enhanced Susanoo nearly defeated Obito, but Obito used Kamui to evade Shisui’s hidden clone and won.

• Obito and Shisui opened with Fire Release and Taijutsu, matching each other as their Mangekyō Sharingan countered their usual advantages.
• Shisui summoned a green Susanoo, and Obito answered with a pale blue one; their skeletal giants clashed to a stalemate.
• Shisui poured Armament Haki into Susanoo’s fist, shattered Obito’s Susanoo, and struck Obito, who survived by using Kamui.
• Obito used Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and Blue Flare to damage Shisui’s Susanoo, then pressed his attack as Shisui weakened.
• Shisui’s concealed Shadow Clone attacked Obito from the side, but Obito phased through it with Kamui, grabbed Shisui, and knocked him down.
• Mu Yue declared Obito the winner, and Obito collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

After Obito defeated Might Guy, the ranking battle paused until the next day, while Kakashi teased Yamato and accepted his help. At a high-level meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to challenge Sōsuke himself so Konoha could pursue revenge without starting a war.

• Obito defeated Might Guy, and Kakashi worried about how to counter Obito's Phasing Kamui before the final match.
• Nohara Rin congratulated Obito, and Mu Yue ended the day's ranking battles so the participants could recover for the match against Kakashi tomorrow.
• Kakashi treated Yamato to ramen, took him to carry ninja tools, and then paid him for his help.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reported that Ninshu could gather only about two thousand ninjas, and the advisors discussed whether Konoha should delay action or negotiate.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed turning the negotiations into a challenge and declared that he would fight Sōsuke himself, overruling the objections of Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Mu Yue.

Obito prepared for his ranking battle with Kakashi, confident that he could claim first place. After a fierce fight in which both used powerful techniques and tactics, Obito defeated Kakashi and became Mu Yue's strongest disciple.

• Obito woke early, teased Charizard, ate breakfast, and headed to the Southern Forest with Shisui for training.
• Obito and Kakashi began their ranking battle, trading Fire Release and Earth Release techniques as Obito watched for Kakashi's clone tactics.
• Kakashi used Thunder Breathing Chakra Mode, lightning attacks, and a Lightning Clone to try to overcome Obito's Phasing Kamui, but Obito avoided the crucial strikes.
• Obito summoned a skeletal Susanoo to block Kakashi's Lightning Clone attack, then landed a heavy punch that left Kakashi unable to continue the fight.
• Mu Yue declared Obito the winner, and Obito celebrated taking first place in the ranking battle.

After Obito won the disciples’ ranking battle, Mu Yue assigned Shisui to help integrate Uchiha ninja into Konoha’s mission teams. He then confronted Orochimaru about illegal experiments and agreed to cooperate under strict limits, leaving Orochimaru’s research under his supervision.

• Obito celebrated defeating Kakashi and asked Mu Yue to begin teaching him the Flying Thunder God Technique, while Kakashi and the other disciples resumed training.
• Mu Yue asked Shisui to identify capable, younger Uchiha ninja for mission squads and encouraged Shisui and Obito to share their experiences with the clan.
• Orochimaru visited Mu Yue under the pretext of retrieving his belongings from the Training Squad base, and Mu Yue agreed to take him there.
• On the way, Orochimaru reflected on Mu Yue’s rise and tried to determine whether Mu Yue knew about his past experiments.
• At the base, Mu Yue confronted Orochimaru about illegal human experiments conducted with Shimura Danzō and proposed cooperation.
• Mu Yue required Orochimaru to disclose his experiments and forbid him from using captured civilians as test subjects, and Orochimaru accepted the terms.

Rōshi returned from establishing Ninshu in the Land of Birds and reported his plans to Mu Yue as tensions with Konoha rose. After seeing Ninshu’s experimental prosthetics, he joined Kakuzu and Nagato to observe Orochimaru’s latest negotiation team.

• Kakuzu welcomed Rōshi and the Land of Birds’ Ninshu ninjas back to Six Paths City and explained that Konoha’s failed talks had made residents fear war.
• Rōshi reported on Ninshu’s progress in the Land of Birds and proposed expanding its ideals, investigating local ninja factions, and improving public security.
• Rōshi offered to use his Jinchuriki identity to divert Konoha’s attention, but Mu Yue told him to focus on his work and not worry about Konoha.
• Kakuzu showed Rōshi Sasori’s puppet prosthesis, which could restore lost limbs and be equipped with hidden weapons, though Sasori was the only one able to perform the procedure.
• A Ninshu ninja announced that Orochimaru had arrived with another Konoha negotiation team, and Rōshi chose to join Kakuzu and Nagato in watching the talks.

Konoha proposed settling the dispute with Ninshu through a duel between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sōsuke, and Sōsuke agreed. Meanwhile, Shisui planned to recruit Uchiha ninja for village missions, and the chapter ended with Mu Yue receiving a reward for Might Guy’s progress.

• Orochimaru told Kakuzu that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to duel Sōsuke and would consider Shimura Danzō’s matter settled regardless of the outcome.
• Mu Yue agreed to the duel, and Kakuzu accepted Konoha’s terms on Ninshu’s behalf.
• Sasori asked Nagato to help him earn an early release by assisting with attacks on Konoha, but Nagato reassured him that Sōsuke would protect Ninshu.
• Shisui proposed temporarily assigning Uchiha ninja to high-quality missions and developed a survey and recruitment plan with Uchiha Fugaku.
• Shisui reported his plan to Mu Yue, who praised his progress.
• Mu Yue received a system reward after Might Guy grew stronger and advanced toward becoming the strongest in taijutsu.

Mu Yue obtained the Limitless Cursed Technique and tested its defenses, weaknesses, and applications, then considered how it might fit into his training system. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to face Ninshu at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain, leaving Mu Yue and Utatane Koharu in charge of Konoha as he departed.

• Mu Yue used the S+ self-selected extraction scroll to obtain the Mastery Level Limitless Cursed Technique.
• Mu Yue tested Limitless against a Shadow Clone’s attacks, finding that it stopped physical and ninjutsu attacks but did not prevent genjutsu or Shadow Imitation Jutsu, and that the Six Paths Staff could nullify it.
• Mu Yue considered using the Yang Seal to offset Limitless’s Chakra consumption and explored its offensive and movement applications.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura agreed to travel to the border battle site four days later, while Hiruzen left Mu Yue responsible for urgent matters in Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura departed with six jonin guards disguised as ordinary ninja, and Hiruzen vowed to avenge Danzo.

Mu Yue faced Hiruzen Sarutobi at the arranged mountain battlefield after Ninshu’s members tried to accompany him and the selected group traveled to the border. The two leaders prepared to fight while their allies withdrew, and Mu Yue resolved to test his strongest abilities.

• Yahiko, Kakuzu, Nagato, Konan, Rōshi, and several Ninshu elders asked to accompany Sōsuke, so Mu Yue held a lottery and selected Nagato, Kakuzu, Rōshi, and Chi Chang, then chose five more shinobi.
• Konan gave Mu Yue a paper flower, and Ninshu’s shinobi gathered to see him off, believing he was risking his life to protect their organization.
• Mu Yue traveled toward the battlefield with the selected shinobi while his main body arrived and substituted a Shadow Clone; he sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s group approaching the mountain.
• Mu Yue’s group and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s group met on the mountainside, where both sides assessed each other and Mu Yue greeted Hiruzen before asking to begin.
• Hiruzen and Mu Yue signaled for their allies to retreat, and Mu Yue prepared to use his full capabilities against Hiruzen.

Sōsuke faced Hiruzen Sarutobi in a no-referee battle and walked unharmed through the Hokage’s increasingly powerful attacks, revealing an unfamiliar defensive Ninjutsu. After Sōsuke defeated Hiruzen’s Shadow Clones in close combat, Hiruzen recognized the danger and summoned Enma.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked Sōsuke with a massive Fire Release technique, but Sōsuke emerged from the flames completely unharmed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi followed with Earth Dragon Flame Stream, Lightning Water Dragon Bullet, and a Shuriken Shadow Clone barrage, yet none of the attacks injured or slowed Sōsuke.
• Shisui realized Sōsuke’s ability was a protective shield rather than a technique like Kamui, while the watching Konoha and Ninshu ninja reacted to Sōsuke’s apparent advantage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent two Shadow Clones to attack Sōsuke with Taijutsu, but Sōsuke crushed one clone’s wrist and kicked the other apart.
• Recognizing that Sōsuke was a serious threat, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma and prepared to go all out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tested Mu Yue's defenses with a series of attacks, then unleashed his Five Elements Release: Great Bullet Technique. Mu Yue erased the combined assault with Sukunabikona, leaving the battlefield silent and Hiruzen Sarutobi realizing how badly he had underestimated him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi found that his Adamantine Staff and genjutsu could not bypass Mu Yue's defenses, while Mu Yue revealed a Byakugan and a golden eye that summoned a black cube.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi dodged the falling cubes, used explosive tags and Earth Release to restrain Mu Yue, and trapped him in an Adamantine Prison Wall.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi created four Shadow Clones and attacked Mu Yue with the Five Elements Release: Great Bullet Technique, believing it was his best chance to win.
• Mu Yue escaped the swamp, destroyed the Adamantine Prison Wall with Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance, and used Sukunabikona to shrink and erase the five-element attack.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a bitter smile as the battlefield fell silent and realized he had been investigating the wrong source of the Ninshu side's strength.

Mu Yue, disguised as Sōsuke, overwhelmingly defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi in their duel, then healed him and stopped the battle before either side suffered serious losses. After Hiruzen admitted defeat and withdrew with the Konoha forces, Mu Yue told Kakuzu that conflict with the great villages would suit his plans.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked Sōsuke with Shadow Clones, Wind Release, Earth Release, and the Reaper Death Seal, but Mu Yue countered his techniques and sent him flying with a powerful punch.
• Mu Yue crushed Enma’s transformed Adamantine Staff with Daikokuten cubes and interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attempt to use the Reaper Death Seal.
• After Hiruzen Sarutobi was struck down, the Konoha ninja and Ninshu ninja began fighting, while Shisui held back his ocular technique and watched Sōsuke approach Hiruzen.
• Mu Yue healed Hiruzen Sarutobi and ordered both sides to stop; Hiruzen accepted defeat and led the Konoha group away.
• Kakuzu questioned why Mu Yue had let the Konoha group leave, and Mu Yue said conflict with the great villages would be useful and that it would be best if they came together.

After returning to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted that Sōsuke had overwhelmingly defeated him and considered passing the Hokage position to Mu Yue. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu urged him to reconsider, while Asuma and Sarutobi Biwako offered their views on Mu Yue’s suitability.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura secretly returned to Konoha after the battle with Sōsuke.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu that Sōsuke had defeated him decisively and proposed passing the Hokage position to Mu Yue.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu argued that Hiruzen Sarutobi should remain Hokage, and he agreed to think the matter over.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Asuma what he thought of his leadership, and Asuma said he would choose Mu Yue as Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Sarutobi Biwako about Mu Yue, and she said he was respected by his students and had helped Asuma become stronger and more sensible.

After a nightmare about Sōsuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to step down and begin the election for the Fourth Hokage. Mu Yue and Orochimaru were nominated, while Minato Namikaze was deemed too inexperienced, and the Jonin vote was scheduled for a week later.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi woke from a nightmare about fighting Sōsuke and decided he needed to tell Mu Yue what had happened.
• Minato Namikaze reported on Special Jonin evaluations and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Mu Yue was more suited to becoming Hokage than the Sannin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu and announced that he was stepping down and initiating an election for the Fourth Hokage.
• At a high-level meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the advisors nominated Mu Yue and Orochimaru, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu rejected Mu Yue's suggestion to nominate Minato Namikaze.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi scheduled the Jonin election vote for one week later and outlined the following voting and confirmation process.

After losing to Sōsuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi confided in Mu Yue and began arranging for Mu Yue to be nominated as Fourth Hokage. Asuma learned of the coming election and brought Hiruzen’s Hokage hat to Mu Yue’s home, where he, Obito, and Shisui discussed preparing support for Mu Yue.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted his defeat to Sōsuke, apologized to Mu Yue, and shared what he had learned about Sōsuke’s defensive techniques.
• Hiruzen told Mu Yue to remain in Konoha until the election and claimed Konoha Newspaper would interview him, while quietly arranging to make him a candidate.
• At dinner, Hiruzen hinted to Asuma that the Hokage election was near, and Asuma guessed what was happening and took Hiruzen’s hat in a scroll.
• Asuma visited Mu Yue and placed the Hokage hat on his head, prompting Obito to take a picture before Mu Yue knocked them both on the head.
• Asuma told Mu Yue, Obito, and Shisui about the likely election, and they discussed ways to build support for Mu Yue against possible nominee Tsunade.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that he would step down and nominated Orochimaru and Hanyu Muyue as candidates for Fourth Hokage. Muyue won the jonin vote by a landslide, leaving his path to the position nearly secure.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the jonin that he intended to resign as Hokage and pass the position to a younger generation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi nominated Orochimaru and Hanyu Muyue as candidates for Fourth Hokage.
• Tsunade said she would vote for Mu Yue, while Jiraiya chose to abstain.
• The jonin cast secret ballots, and Hanyu Muyue received 139 votes while Orochimaru received 28.
• Obito celebrated Muyue’s overwhelming lead and reflected that Minato Namikaze had not even been nominated in this altered history.

Mu Yue won an overwhelming lead in the jonin vote, and his friends and students joined him for a celebratory dinner. Back at the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Fugaku urged Shisui to help build support for Mu Yue’s proposal to reform the Police Force.

• Kushina, Minato Namikaze, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya congratulated Mu Yue after the vote, and they agreed to celebrate over dinner.
• Mu Yue invited his students and disciples, including Asuma and Obito, to join the meal.
• Obito lamented that his elaborate plan for the Hokage election had become unnecessary, while Shisui cautioned him against reckless ideas.
• Uchiha Fugaku visited Shisui and told him to organize the clan elders and assembly to support Mu Yue’s proposal once the village’s momentum favored him.
• Shisui agreed and reflected that Fugaku had become more proactive because Mu Yue might become Hokage.

Mu Yue returned to Six Paths City after easily defeating Hiruzen Sarutobi, delighting Ninshu and alarming Iwagakure. In Konoha, Kakashi read a newspaper praising Mu Yue’s achievements, then heard rumors that Sōsuke had defeated the Third Hokage and headed toward the Southern Forest.

• Mu Yue returned safely to Ninshu headquarters, where the shinobi learned he had easily defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kakuzu told Yahiko and the Ninshu shinobi that Konoha had tried to interfere in the duel but failed, and he urged them not to fear Konoha.
• Hokage and Iwagakure operatives confirmed the reports, prompting Ōnoki to reconsider Ninshu’s growing power and order more investigation into the battle.
• Kakashi read a Konoha Newspaper article detailing Mu Yue’s teaching record and wartime achievements, including his appointment as Hokage Advisor.
• Kakashi heard Konoha residents dismiss rumors that Sōsuke had defeated Hiruzen, then went toward the Southern Forest.

Konoha’s leaders responded to news that Sōsuke had defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi by ignoring the rumors and speeding up the Hokage election, while Mu Yue won overwhelming support from the village’s ninja. As the Daimyo arrived to confirm the candidate, Konoha’s senior officials began recommending Mu Yue.

• Kakashi told Mu Yue that rumors of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s defeat by Sōsuke had spread, and Mu Yue confirmed the report to Kakashi and Obito.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other leaders chose not to address the rumors publicly and accelerated the Fourth Hokage election.
• Mu Yue received ninety percent of the genin and chunin vote, making his victory effectively certain, so the leaders finalized the result ahead of the remaining civilian vote.
• Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku persuaded the Uchiha elders to support Mu Yue’s plan to free powerful Uchiha members from routine Police Force duties for high-level missions.
• The Daimyo arrived in Konoha and asked who the leaders recommended; Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu each named Hanyu Muyue.